Authors note: I am so very sorry for not updating but truth was i just didnt feel like this story was going anywhere and so as you can imagine i had a major writters block. i got a very -eh-colourful i guess you could call it email from a person who had read my story- it was also anonymous so whoever you are thank you because your the reason i'm continuing. I finally found the meaning of this story- after how many months? Anyway i will be uipdating at least once a week- if not every couple of days and for those who read my other stories updates are on their way as well.I also noticed there has been alot of new readers to the story- unusual since the lazy author hasnt written anything in yonks. So i'm thankful to them. To all the old readers - yout patience resembeles that of some sort of saint- dont ask me which one as i havn't a clue, but thanks for all the support, i really appreciate it and keep it coming guys.

To the readers both old and new: Enjoy!

Chapter thirty one: Past comes round again.

A strange dream was passing me again. Not the same dream that I had had before. It was, if possible, more odd than the last. All I could really remember of it was a leopard. Most witches cannot shapeshift but it is possible, this although at first glance did seem like a leopard did not feel like it, nor did it feel like a witch either, like some horror of the two. As I stared into its strange eyes I felt a tug of familiarity, a connection to which I had never been attached to, but I was now, almost glowing with that same attachment. I realised looking into the eyes of the leopard that I was staring into the eyes of my mother.

Hunter was gone. I felt as if half of my soul had gone lost with him. I didn't think I had ever felt so alone in my life and I've had some pretty alone times in the past, especially when Bree and I had become deadly enemies. But Bree was separate from me, hunter- as much as I was still denying now- was a much as past of me as my own soul.

He called when he could but that wasn't so often, I missed him with a physical ache sure but the bond did have its uses- I could feel what Hunter was doing, who he was with and he me.

It had been very strange at first; during the night I would get strange images from him.

The dreams didn't stop either, I had no clue as to what they meant. All I knew was that it was in some way tied to the bond between myself and hunter and my mother, though what the connection was I had no idea.

My mother had come into my dreams before, when I had first started to delve into the world of Wicca. She seems to be taking a more active role in my dreams now more so in the past where she would seem young- almost as if she had recorded it and was only then playing it. I felt as though I could reach out and touch her with my hands she was so close to me.

"We'll find out what it means love" Hunter had told me, he had called me from Siberia when he had felt the surge in my power, he had told me he had never felt such power come from me. I found it a little disconcerting.

I gripped the phone a little harder suddenly afraid "What if its someone using my mothers image against me" thinking of Selene, the way she had used Cal's image to distort and enhance my feelings about her dead son. Cal had always been dead; Selene had just used my memory of him to get what she wanted- me. It was sad truly, how even in death Cal would always be used by his mother.

"I think you would have felt that don't you?" Hunter asked he seemed very distracted as if he was listening to me and to something else therefore only getting half the conversation and half the meaning.

I shook my head " I don't know" I said quietly looking around my room.

Hunter sighed "Just when things get good for us things go awry again don't they?" he said softly as if mirroring my own thoughts and feelings.

I smiled wryly "You could say that" I said ominously.

Hunter laughed, " You really could and that's the worrying thing. Listen. Morgan. I know we don't know much at this stage but give it time. You never know it could just be as we think. That Maeve is trying to contact you again"

I bit my lip " Maybe. But we both know things with me- with us- are never that simple"

Hunter sighed again " No. But love wouldn't be love if it was simple" and then we rang of.

Alyce had told me to come by whenever I felt that I needed to. I guess now was one of the times that I felt I needed to. I was saying this to myself as I stood outside Practical Magick. It was cold out- though that might have something to do with the fact that it was 6.30 in the morning. But I needed a witch to talk to. A witch who could help me.

Alyce was quick to open the door- she had probably sensed me. She greeted me with a smile and a hug and we went inside practical magick.

Alyce was another morning person (something I did not get) and she was often up with the sun itself. I new this because she had helped me before- when I was completely lost in what to do.

" Is it something to do with Hunter?" she asked knowingly. She was seated in one of her overstuffed chairs that were quite frankly a little big for the room.

I sighed heavily thinking about how to answer, " Yes. No. I… I'm, so confused" I said putting my head into my hands.

" Life is confusing Morgan. Nothing any of us can do about that. But love…. Goddess knows if love is ever not confusing," she said lightly and I laughed.

"I don't know weather it is to do with Hunter or just me. For the past three or four nights I've been having… dreams, visions about my mother. But she's not my mother- at least she doesn't feel like her- and in some ways she does. I looked into her eyes and when I did I saw her looking right back at me" alyce shifted uncomfortably.

"I ….I had heard- well- stories about something like that- to do with your mother. I didn't want to tell you because of what happened with the last time you came into contact with a shapeshifter- your father and Selene. I thought it would only upset you since it does seem to be a rare trait in the woodbane clan though there are other references to the other clans about possible shapeshifters. But like you know only –well usually only- 'bad' Woodbanes inherit this.

I was shaking my head by this point unbelieving what I was hearing alyce say "Are you saying- what are you saying Alyce?" I asked in a whisper but I made it a question.

Alyce sighed, " Your mother was a shifter Morgan. Not a shape shifter but she had an animal to call- I suppose you could call it a familiar but its not quite the same- an animal to call means you can take on their shape, share in their magicks. Maeve, from what I remember of the rumour could do this. It was extremely rare- even then- and even among the woodbanes. It was one of the reasons why your mother was such a strong which Morgan"

" A shifter. My mother was a shifter?" I said disbelievingly. My mother. Another something I learned about my family and their heritage. Another dark secret to hide.

When I got home I found that there was a message for me. My mother had taken the call. It was a woman named Katrina Byrne my mother said and I frowned, what did Katrina want? I went to the phone and dialled the number that she had given my mother on where to reach her.

After three rings Colm picked up and checked when he heard my voice "Morgan? Are you alright?" he asked and for a moment I considered telling him about my mother. He had been so good, so kind about Ciaran, but then could I handle him knowing another dirty secret about my family. I should tell Hunter first. He could tell me what to do with it.

In the end I said, " I'm fine. Everything's fine. Can I speak to your mum? She called for me earlier but I was out" I suppose Colm knew I wasn't speaking the truth but he didn't want to push me. That was different. Hunter usually always wanted to push me to tell him what was wrong. Colm was different than him in a lot of ways.

Still feeling suspicious Colm handed over the phone and Katrina came on the line, she was ecstatic, in fact if I hadn't known her I would have said she was giddy " Morgan I have some very exciting news. We've located them Morgan. We've located the other survivors from Belwicket. From the dark wave"

I told myself I didn't believe in coincidences but then this was a big coincidence to let go by.